Gospel for Asia’s Leprosy Ministry

Bringing Love, Dignity and Healing to the Rejected

The main goal of our leprosy ministry is to share the love of Jesus and the hope of the Good News with the victims of this disfiguring disease.

We also seek to help them with the many needs and challenges they face in their personal lives, with their families and in the colonies where they now reside.

Leprosy is still a greatly feared disease across Asia because of the disfigurement it can cause, the social stigma it carries, and because it can be transmitted through close contact with a patient.

However, leprosy can be totally cured without permanent damage if medical help is sought immediately. Unfortunately, in remote places and among the poor, diagnosis and treatment often come too late. The cured who have no visible deformity will be able to integrate back into society. All others, sadly, will have to live in leprosy colonies—alone or with their families—for the rest of their lives.

Last September, Baga lay sick and alone for his last night on earth. When he passed away that night, he died hidden from society, for he was a leprosy patient. But he knew that one person cared for him—Nanji, the GFA missionary who had introduced Baga to the saving love of Jesus.

It is estimated that over half the world’s remaining leprosy cases are in India. Though the disease is preventable and curable, thousands still suffer from leprosy because it is not diagnosed soon enough, and the social stigma leaves them in despair.

When Baga was stricken with leprosy, his wife and children were the first to leave him. Forsaken, he lived hidden away until Nanji met him. The first person willing to associate with this outcast, Nanji visited Baga and prayed for him regularly. Nanji knew that while Baga’s disease made him feel worthless, Jesus loved him. Nanji shared the Gospel and continued showing Jesus’ love.

When Nanji heard of Baga’s death, he knew that he was probably one of the only people who cared. But Nanji is looking forward to the day he will see Baga in heaven with a whole and perfect body, in the presence of a perfect and loving God.

What is Gospel for Asia doing to help?

Today, GFA-supported national missionaries and students are involved in sharing the love of Christ and Sunday school ministry among leprosy patients. They also do social and relief work such as food distribution, medical aid, health and hygiene awareness programs, adult education and tutoring centers for children.

"Nobody cares for me," Chandrarupa said, "but these sisters are touching me and feeding me which nobody would do."

100% of donations preferenced for use on the field is sent to the field.

The Lord has blessed tremendously

The Lord has blessed tremendously. In many of the colonies, fellowship groups of new believers have sprung up, and some of these have already become churches. The believers of one church recently had the joy of sending the first young man from their colony to one of our Bible colleges to prepare for full-time ministry.

Faram Aziz suffers from leprosy. He lives segregated from society in a leprosy colony in West Bengal, India. The leprosy, a chronic infectious disease that attacks the nervous system, had caused a large wound on Farim’s leg. But thanks to Gospel for Asia’s Compassion Services, Faram’s leg wound is now healed.

The Compassion Services ministry strives to meet the physical needs of the people afflicted with leprosy and to fulfill their spiritual needs by introducing them to Jesus. Since last July, several missionaries have devoted themselves to ministering to people living in the leprosy colonies of West Bengal, India. Since that time, they have seen several leprosy patients choose to follow Christ.

One of the missionaries working with this effort is Anisur Roze, who was healed from leprosy after GFA missionaries prayed for him. He has committed his life to serve the Lord among leprosy patients.

Anisur joined the Gospel for Asia missionaries when they began visiting three government settlements for leprosy sufferers in West Bengal. Within a few months, the missionaries were conducting worship services in these colonies and a fourth colony in a nearby area.

In December, the missionaries distributed Christmas gifts of blankets and shawls to the people living in the leprosy colonies. Later that month, the missionaries conducted a communion service for the Christians in these colonies. Many of them had trouble holding the bread because the disease had attacked their hands, causing them to lose fingers. GFA missionary Dilip Rehman stepped in and helped the leprosy patients by placing the communion bread straight into their mouths.

The missionaries are always on the lookout for ways to help the individuals living in these colonies. When they met Jaya Bagchi, they noticed that the disease made it difficult for him to walk. He was weak and very thin. The missionaries found a way to provide Jaya with some basic daily nutrition. They also prayed for him, and now, by God’s grace, he is able to walk.

GFA missionaries serving in this specialized ministry ask for prayer as they seek to meet the needs of the leprosy patients. Pray that the Lord would grant everyone involved in the ministry enough grace to continue serving this most unreached group.

Without Christ, leprosy patients have no hope for this life or for eternity. Jesus always reached out to the poor and rejected, inviting them to become children of God. Let us follow in the footsteps of our King.